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PSL 2018 Team Preview : Karachi Kings, the perennial under-performers

If the winner of PSL could be decided on the basis of big names then a team featuring the likes of the master entertainer Shahid Afridi, the world-class Mohammad Amir and former holder of ICC’s Number One ranking as a T20I bowler Imad Wasim would be the simple choice as champions of the upcoming PSL 3.

However, if the past is any guide, we all know that being good on paper or TV cameras is not a guarantee of future success as Karachi Kings have experienced in the past 2 editions of the Pakistan’s premier Twenty20 tournament.

In the inaugural edition of the PSL in 2016, Karachi Kings flattered to deceive and ended up 4th, whilst in the 2017 edition they improved their position to 3rd. A slight improvement one would say but in a tournament with just 6 teams, could this be a sign of better showing in PSL 3?

Whilst gazing into a crystal ball is sometimes a better indicator of predicting winners in T20 games, it would be instructive to have a detailed look at the Karachi Kings’ potential match winners to get an idea of how things could go for the team representing Pakistan’s largest city.

To start with, a lot is expected from Shahid Afridi who has ‘returned’ to Karachi after a stint with Peshawar Zalmi in the past editions of the tournament. He brings with him a promise of full stadia and when in the mood, lots of big shots but what Karachi Kings need from him is application of experience which could turn tight games in their favour. Boom Boom will be expected to go large and do what Chris Gayle could not do in the previous competition for Karachi.

In Imad Wasim, Karachi have a leader who is not afraid to take the game to the opposition but also has the ability to turn the game on its head with the bat and the ball. Whether being entrusted with captaincy could either bring out the best in him or could destroy his game, only time will tell but all indications are that Imad is the man for the job.

With Babar Azam, another top name in T20 cricket and the dependable Ravi Bopara who never fails to amaze with his all-round skills, and Colin Ingram who was part of the BBL 7 Champions’ Adelaide Strikers squad, Karachi will be hoping for some fireworks in the batting department to get them the scores which the bowling attack can defend with ease.

Shahid Afridi armed with his evergreen leg-spin skills and Mohammad Amir who seems to be enjoying bowling in T20s will be accompanied by a number of very able bowling options in the Karachi line-up. These include Usman Khan Shinwari who replaced Amir with some success during the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year and another T20 specialist in the form of Tymal Mills or even Tabish Khan who many will be eager to see perform in a top-level tournament such as the PSL. Usama Mir and Mohammad Irfan jr. are also likely to feature in some games, especially if the well-known names fail to perform to the level that is expected.

Karachi Kings have assembled a squad which can take them far but given past history of equally good squads in the past, one would be well advised to refrain from forecasting glory. A runners-up position in the final standing of PSL 2018 would be an achievement but then this is T20 cricket and anything can happen, including an epic win in front of doting Karachi fans in the PSL final!

Prediction: If all goes well, a 2nd place in the PSL 2018

Player to watch: Usama Mir – a good showing in this tournament could do wonders for his confidence and future prospects!

I think they are pretty light on the batting front. Just found 5 genuine batsmen in this side, which includes Rizwan and Khurram Manzoor. Unless Babar and Ingram have a great tournament and Khurram Manzoor turns out to be a surprise package, I see it very hard for them to post 160+ most of the times.

But then again, the question is that will the pitches be good enough to score 160+ all the time.

Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal on Wednesday claimed that upto 98 per cent of foreign cricketers are ready to come to Pakistan for the playoffs and finals of the 2018 Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The country's flagship T20 league, which kicks off on Feb 22, will see its playoffs and the final played in Lahore and Karachi respectively.

Foreign players, in the past, have shown great reluctance in visiting Pakistan owing to the country’s volatile security conditions.

However, that reluctance waned significantly in 2017 when a bunch of international players visited Pakistan, first for the PSL final and then for the World XI vs Pakistan series.

Later in the year, Sri Lanka also visited Pakistan, reiterating the Pakistan Cricket Board’s stance that the situation in Pakistan is now under control and conducive for cricket.

Kings owner Iqbal, during the launching ceremony of the team's official kit, delivered more good news to Pakistani cricket fans, saying that all the foreigners on his team’s roster have agreed to travel to Pakistan if their team qualifies

"Six of our seven players are ready to come and play in Pakistan [from the beginning]. Eoin Morgan, who has commitments to other leagues, [is the sole exception]. He will be coming late and will be leaving early."

"This is good news for all of us that players have agreed to come here and we hope everything stays well," he added.

Iqbal claimed that other franchises have had similar success in convincing their international talent to play in Pakistan, saying: "Overall, 98pc of the players have agreed to come to Lahore and Karachi. Some are left and hopefully they will also agree soon."

Iqbal also commented on the selection of the franchise’s captain, Imad Wasim, explaining why the team chose a newcomer such as him to lead the side when far more experienced players options were available.

"In the last two seasons, we changed captains several times so now the management has decided that there should be a young captain who can stay with us for a long and can prove to be helpful, not only for us but for the national team too," he said.

They actually made the play offs in both seasons so far but were dreadful to watch in the majority of the games so didn't deserve to be. A 6th team is good as it's less likely a non-deserving team will make it that far. I'm looking forward to see Afridi play for Karachi Kings.

They had a good squad in PSL1- possibly the best, but just couldn’t get it right
Second year I believe their squad was highly overrated and they did well to get as far as they did
This year they looked like a very strong unit and definitely contenders, but lack of availability and injuries has hurt their chances
They will make the playoffs, but don’t expect them to win

As for Usama Mir I don’t think he will get much opportunities this year, Afridi will play as the leg spinner and Imad Wasim will be the other spinner
If Imad wasn’t captain Usama probably had more chance of being selected

Prediction: 4th place in the PSL 2018, They've got some match winners and consistent players in the team, But their team is still unsettled and their game plans have failed most of the times in Psl, and they probably have 2nd worst win/loss record after Lahore.

Player to watch: Khurram Manzoor – He's looking like an ideal opener for the modern Limited overs cricket in the ongoing tournament. Scoring centuries after centuries at a very impressive strike rate. Hopefully he carries that form into Psl and impresses everyone.

Player to watch: Khurram Manzoor – He's looking like an ideal opener for the modern Limited overs cricket in the ongoing tournament. Scoring centuries after centuries at a very impressive strike rate. Hopefully he carries that form into Psl and impresses everyone.

He's almost 32 but of he can be beneficial in a Sharjeel type role for a few years. However we can't really read too much into those numbers as we have seen how the likes of Kakmal, Shehzad, Masood etc have been bossing the local scene. I would rather go with someone young and untested who has the potential to serve Pak cricket in the long term.

They'll be good to go with this line up.
Usama Mir and Usman Shinwari will be in rotation, if they perform well they'll be first choice. Bopara was useless last season so if he fails in First few matches, Denly should replace him in the starting line up.

He's almost 32 but of he can be beneficial in a Sharjeel type role for a few years. However we can't really read too much into those numbers as we have seen how the likes of Kakmal, Shehzad, Masood etc have been bossing the local scene. I would rather go with someone young and untested who has the potential to serve Pak cricket in the long term.

Kakmal = performed well, given several chances over the years, failed to perform again and again.

Shehzad = he's been declining since 2015. Highly inconsistent, can't play with good strike rate, and failed in several Limited overs games in the last couple of years.

Masood = shouldn't be part of the modern Limited overs cricket team because he doesn't have power game. He's similar to Azhar.

Khurram= Never got a proper run in the limited overs team, especially Odis, when he's been THE best opener in the domestic cricket for several years. He has worked on his power game and he's played several great knocks at high strike rates while maintaining a very high career List-A average as an opener. His career strike rate is not that high because he used to play at normal strike rate, but he clearly have improved his strike rate in the last 2-3 years. His domestic List A numbers are better than Kakmal, Shehzad etc. So he deserves a chance as well when we gave chances to others.

Great analysis! Imad being given captaincy is a very forward-thinking move and hopefully serves karachi kings very well. Hopefully they reach the finals and even though im not the biggest afridi fan, i hope he performs well with the bat and gives fans in the UAE and pak more incentive to go see the games live.

Bopara and Afridi in lower middle order is what is the main problem for Karachi unless Lala opens the batting, Eoin Morgan is a brilliant pick but will play only last few games, hope he comes to Pakistan for play offs if Karachi qualify

We will never surrender. We win or we die. And don't think it stops there. You will have the next generation to fight; and after the next, the next.OMAR MUKHTAR

Bopara and Afridi in lower middle order is what is the main problem for Karachi unless Lala opens the batting, Eoin Morgan is a brilliant pick but will play only last few games, hope he comes to Pakistan for play offs if Karachi qualify

The game was over in the first 2 overs, both openers did nothing. Quetta always puts pressure on the opposition in the middle overs, forget about chasing against them if your team don't get a good start.